January 08, 2009

Jan 2nd 2009 was the first working day of this year. I decided to start going to work again from that date. (I'm going to office with my walker.) I've been going to work for a few days now and I want to share what the experience is like.

Earlier I used to go to work with my bike. Now I cannot even walk on my own, so I use cabs provided by the company. Cab drivers are very caring -- they would help me with my bag, they would take my walker and help me get off the car, and all.

In the office, if someone sees me walking around with a walker, they would stop to help me. It's not unusual for people to wait for 15 or 20 seconds holding a door for me. I just say a "Thank You" and pass. That's all I could do I guess. Even in places where I have to be on my own (e.g. when I am walking to somewhere, to see someone for instance), people offer to help.

Walking 50 metre with a walker is not an easy job, unlike I had thought before coming to work. My thigh (of the good leg), my palms, my shoulders would all hurt. Yesterday, a coworker saw me when I was on my way to the washroom. Maybe she could sense my pain. She herself talked to our facilities team and got a wheel chair for my use inside office building!

Yesterday I was walking towards the area where cabs to Mehdipatnam are parked. I still had about 30 metre or so to cover. The person who manages cabs saw me struggling with the walker and asked me to use a cab that was parked close by. They don't generally do this -- he made an exception for me, without even me asking for it!

Ajay, a teammate, is so so sweet and helpful. He brings food for me everyday to my desk. He offers to get water and snacks for me. If he sees me going somewhere he would push my chair to wherever I am going. He makes my life in office much easier. I am glad and grateful that he is with me.

With so many people to help me, I am moving around inside office with the wheel chair. The whole accident--fracture--hospitalization--bed rest--recovery story is quite an experience, I'd say :)